News & Politics - Needles in McDonalds' Meal

Ambular · 01-14-2005, 12:24 PM

This turns my stomach

Quote:

Needles in McDonald's meal, woman claims

Files a lawsuit; says hospital removed 3 she swallowed
Friday, January 14, 2005
By Michaelangelo Conte
Journal staff writer

WEST NEW YORK - A North Bergen woman has filed a lawsuit against McDonald's, claiming she swallowed three inch-long needles while eating a Crispy Chicken Sandwich at a Bergenline Avenue restaurant.

Beatriz Bermeo spent three days at Palisades Medical Center, where the three needles were surgically removed from her digestive tract after she ingested them on Dec. 29 at the McDonald's near 60th Street, said her attorney, Rosemarie Arnold of Fort Lee.

"Lawyers get a bad rap, but the truth of the matter is it's people like me that force these companies to be a little bit more responsible, especially regarding McDonald's," Arnold said yesterday. "The lawsuits are the only reason they even consider being accountable to their consumers and customers about being safe."

Arnold would not say what sum she thinks would be fair compensation.

On the Dec. 29, Bermeo, her husband, Beethoven, their 2-year-old son Fernando, and her sister stopped at the McDonald's to let the child play in the indoor playground, Arnold said. When they found the playground closed, they sat down for a meal and Bermeo ordered the chicken sandwich, Arnold said.

Halfway through the sandwich, she felt pain in her mouth and esophagus, and, unable to speak, she began clutching her throat because she thought she was choking, Arnold said.

Her husband performed the Heimlich maneuver, but seeing she was still in distress, opened her mouth, saw two needles and pulled them out, Arnold said.

By then, someone had dialed 911 and police arriving at the restaurant rushed Bermeo to Palisades Medical Center, where surgeons removed three more pins from her digestive tract, Arnold said.

She left the hospital three days later, Arnold said, adding that the needles were similar to sewing needles, although they had no eyes for thread.

"They removed the three needles and she still has pain in her chest and stomach, so they think she still may have needles in her," Arnold said adding, "we have no idea how the needles got there, and McDonald's hasn't said anything."

Arnold said that since the incident Bermeo has said she cannot sleep or eat, has pain and "certainly she has emotional damage."

In response to questions about the incident, McDonald's e-mailed a statement from the owner of the franchise, George Gutierrez, who said an aggressive investigation into the incident was launched immediately.

"My restaurant manager and crew employees are highly trained and qualified in safety and sanitation procedures," Gutierrez said in the statement.

"We have no reason to believe that this object came from our restaurant and the object in question is not something that is used in our restaurant. I strongly caution anyone from jumping to conclusions or making assumptions before knowing all the facts."

Gutierrez said the safe operation of his restaurant and the safety of his customers is his highest priority.

Arnold said her firm is the state's most successful in food adulteration suits. She's won suits on things from a pencil found in a donut, to a worm found in a jar of spaghetti sauce, she said.

"Oh God, there are so many," she said.

West New York police are also conducting an investigation into the incident and are "looking into all aspects" of what happened at the McDonald's, said Police Capt. Robert Antolos yesterday.

Ugh. Reason #501 not to eat fast food!

- Jen - · 01-14-2005, 04:46 PM

how do you swallow something that is 3 inches long, and metal, without noticing, didnt she chew the food ? She would of had to take a pretty big bite of the sandwich to get the whole 3 inches into her mouth without actually biting down on the needle...

In Fair Verona · 01-14-2005, 04:59 PM

I think it depends where the needle was inserted into the meal. They might have been small, considering there was no hole for the thread. In any case, that makes me just a little bit paranoid about eating Mickey D's.

The Happy Psycho · 01-14-2005, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by - Jen -

how do you swallow something that is 3 inches long, and metal, without noticing, didnt she chew the food ? She would of had to take a pretty big bite of the sandwich to get the whole 3 inches into her mouth without actually biting down on the needle...

Maybe I misread the article but I understood it to be 3 needles, each one inch long. But I still don't see how anyone could swallow that without noticing.

Mandy Renay · 01-14-2005, 05:51 PM

Ow. Ow, ow. I don't even want to think about it. Once at school someone ate a Dorito that had little pieces of glass in it.

JW77 · 01-14-2005, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Happy Psycho

Maybe I misread the article but I understood it to be 3 needles, each one inch long. But I still don't see how anyone could swallow that without noticing.

Yeah, I think that's what it was. I agree though, I don't know how anyone could swallow that many needles.

Anyway, the lawyer gets to me a bit for some reason. I think it's because it seems like she's talking about how great she is as a lawyer. Just seems strange to me for some reason.

- Jen - · 01-14-2005, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Happy Psycho

Maybe I misread the article but I understood it to be 3 needles, each one inch long. But I still don't see how anyone could swallow that without noticing.

ahh... serves me right for reading that at 6am

still, i dont understand how anyone can still swallow needles without noticing, she mustnt chew very well, the chances of not biting down on the actual needle, i would think are slim..

Timeo · 01-14-2005, 10:51 PM

Ew, that's disgusting. Another reason why fast food is ass, it's so fast that they don't even have time to check their food.

Either way, I don't really understand how she ate that many needles, but I don't think it's fair to insinuate that it's her fault for eating the needles. They put it in there, and I think it's natural for anyone to assume that the food is perfectly alright. Maybe she was hungry and wolfed it down. Who knows?

Sofa · 01-14-2005, 11:03 PM

It makes no sense to swallow more than one needle without realizing something early on. Unless she doesn't chew her food. Which is odd.

Sofa

Eddy · 01-15-2005, 12:38 AM

This reminds me of the stories I used to read about psychos putting needles in food during halloween and giving them to little kids.

-Kelly- · 01-15-2005, 01:34 AM

****

roswellain_chick16 · 01-18-2005, 01:57 AM

Eeeew

I notice when there is a bit of an egg shell in an egg sandwich and I cant stand that - has happened to me a couple of times in my lifetime and that was bad enough, I really dont understand how needles would be able to get into the food, not really something that would be lying around a McD's restaurant!

**Nikki Heat** · 01-18-2005, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by - Jen -

how do you swallow something that is 3 inches long, and metal, without noticing, didnt she chew the food ? She would of had to take a pretty big bite of the sandwich to get the whole 3 inches into her mouth without actually biting down on the needle...

my thoughts exactly .. .

aww i love eating at mc donalds sometimes .. but now .. uhm .. i´ll think twice

alli balli · 01-18-2005, 02:41 PM

The women's in-laws should be sued for naming their son "Beethoven," and she should be sued for naming her kid "Fernando."


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